Control mechanism



.Sept 18, 1945. Q A, ARENS 2,384,805

CONTROL MECHANISM Filed March 7, 1942 Patented Sept. 18, 1945 AUNITED STATES PATENT/- OFFICE Charles A. Arens, Chicagollll., assignorfto,Arens Controls, Inc., Chicago, IIL, a corporation, of

Illinois Application March, 7, 1942, SeralNo. 433,732 13 claims. (Crm1-512) This invention relates to control mechanisms, and has particular reference to means for preventing inadvertent operation of the control mechanism, as for example when not in use, While atthesame time permitting its ready and instant operation, as may be desired.

It is an object of the invention to. provide a control mechanism', of the type dened, of iunproved construction and improved operating characteristics.

More specifically stated, it is an obje-ct of the invention to provide in a control mechanism having a control'member movable along a predetermined. path of travel to effect its operative control Vfunctions, improved means automatically operable `ior preventing movement of the member along said path of travel when engaged by an inadvertent operating force.

Further objects of the invention are to provide in acontrol mechanism of the type dened, means whereby the operable control member may .be pedalfoperated, means whereby the device to becontrolled may be bodily shiitable with respect to-said control member, and means whereby said control member may be shifted along various selectedpaths of travel toeilect aselected operation ofthe controlled device.

Variousr other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following `speciiication when taken in connection with. the accompanying drawing, wherein certain preferred embodiments of the invention are set forth for purposes of illustration.

In. the drawing, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout:

Fig. 1. is a` general assembly view of a control installation embodying a control mechanism con.- structed and operating in accordance with the principlesy of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial side view, on an enlarged scale, of the control mechanismv illustrated in:

Fig. 1, and; more particularly showing the'foot or pedal-operated control member;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2, as viewed from the left end' thereof;

Fig. 4' is a partial perspectivedetail view, more Vparticularly illustrating the action ofthe locking' orrb blocking projection-dor the control member;

Fig. 5 isa topview of the mechanism of Fig'. 2, 1 5

`extendingiugs or projections 2l adaptedY to carry on a somewhat reduced scale; andv Fig. 6 is a partial view of a modified embodiment off the structure;

Referring more particularly tothe drawing, and

rst. to Fig. V1` thereof, one` device to be operated by the control mechanismof the invention, is generally` indicatedby the reference numeral l0. As illustrated',y the operated device is supported from a Wall structure l Iv by means of a bracket I2` and a universalmounting comprising a vertical pivot l3-andja horizontal pivot |42 The pivots i3 and l4` cooperate to. permit universal shifting of the device l0' with. respect to itsv supporting wall and bracket structure.' The invention in certain of its aspects is parti'cularly adapted. for thecontrol of operated devices such as ythe illustrated device l0, which are'bodily shiftablewith respect` to their support,- ing structures upon which a. par-t of th'e control mechanism may be permanently mounted or carvriedl." It is tofbe understood, however, that the invention in other of its aspects is adapted for the control of operated devices of various types and kinds. which are rigidly mounted upon their supporttructures., By way of illustration, but not by way of li tation, thecontrolled device l0 in the illustrated embodiment may for example be a gun mounting, shiftable machine. tool structure, for other. suitable operated or controlledl device. The device Al0 is shiftablo, on the pivots I3 and .1.4 by means oi a handle portion I5, and the devicej is provided with operated members I6 and Il adaptedto. be controlledby the control mechanism oir the invention. In the illustrated embodiment, operated member I'6 is. in the form of aboli-crank, pivotally mounted upon the device lll aslindicated` at t8,V and pivotally connected to the link member Il adapted to be connected to any su able mechanism to be operated.`

Referring tolFigs. l, 2, 3 and 5, the control.

' gciatecl. with vthe support wall Il. A strengthening .ilangele connectsvthe, base andupstanding column. or wallportion of the frameA Disposed adjacent the rear end ot the base 22. is a bracket structure? 25; of; general U-shape in horizontal cross section, as bestV shownA in Fig. 5.2

A control. member 26is pivotally mounted upon the frame 20;iby means of the bracket 25. More specifically, the control' member 26 is provided adjacent its rear end with a pair of downwardly a cross pin or pivot 28 engageable within horizontally extending slots 29 formed inthe oppo- "site sidewall portions offthe- U-bracket 25, l Suitaccommodate the shifting of the control memberin a, vertical plane, the pin 28 is rotatable within the slots 29. To accommodate the forward and rearward shifting of the control member, the pin 26 is bodily shiftable longitudinally of-.the slots. To

accommodate the pivotal movements of the control member in a horizontal plane, the pin 28 may jable within a flexible sheath 55. The sheath 55 may be formed of a Wire coil or the like, the wire be longitudinally shifted in one of the slots, hav

ing pivotal engagement with the end wall of the other slot, or if the control member is in: a inidforward position, the ends of the pin 28 may be `simultaneously oppositely shifted in both slots to provide a horizontal pivotal movement.

YA pair of tension springs 3| secured at their rear ends to the bracket and at their forward 'ends to a lug32 formed on the control member 26,

normally urge the control member into its rearwardmost position, as shown'insolid lines in Fig.

2, the pivot pin 28 being brought into eng-agement 'with the rear ends of the bracket slots 29.

The control member 26, being mounted upon the floor. is adapted'for pedal-operation. To this end, as best shown in Fig. 5, the control member is shaped generally to conform to the foot of the operator. It is provided withv an upstanding flange 35 arranged across the front of the control member, and along its forward side edges, to facilitate the manipulation of vthe ,controlV member by the operators foot.

A blocking or lockout'tongue 36 is carried by the forward end of the control member or pedal 26, the tongue'having an upwardly bent portion 31 welded or otherwise suitably secured to the control member flange 35. As best shown in Fig. 4,"the tongue 36 is provided at its forward end with a portion 38 which is wider than its rearwardly adjacent portion 39.V

The column 2| of the frame v2|) is adapted for 'cooperation with the tongue 36, being provided 'with' a series of slots or cutouts adapted to receive 'the tongue for the purpose of controlling the shiftable movements of the control pedal 26. More specically, in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1-5, the frame column 2| is provided with a horizontal slot 40, Fig. 3, having at either end thereof vertically downwardly extending slots 4| and 42. The

slots 4| and 42 are of suiicient'width to receive the narrow portion 39 of the tongue 36, but of insuflicient width to receive the wider tongue portion 38. It will thus be seen that if the control pedal is shifted laterally in a. horizontal plane y in one direction or-the other from its normal central position, to bring the tongue 36 into j uxtaposition to either the slot '4| or the slot 42, the

tonguemay be depressed into the slot if the control member has also been forwardly shifted to bring the reduced or narrow tongue portion 39 into engagement with the slot, but not otherwise.

A pair of tension springs 45 securedat their lower ends to the tongue 36 and at their upper ends to a flange46 formed on the frame column, normally urge the tongue and the associated control pedal 26 into their uppermost position, as shown in Fig. 3. i

Thecontrol 'mechanism includes a transmission for transmitting the movements of the con- Bowden wire structure.

`longitudinally shiftable within Aa flexible sheath 62, The contro1 wire 6| vand sheath 62 may be associated with another controlled device, not shown, similar to` the device I6, or any other suitable device to be operated.

In operation, the tension springs 3| normally cause the shaft or pin 28 to be pushed rearwardly within the slots 29 of the bracket 25, into engagement with the rear ends of the slots. This not "only causes the control member 26 to be drawn rearwardly, or to the right as seen in Fig. 2, but due to the engagement of the pin against the ends of the slots, also causes the control'member to be centered, bringing the tongue 36 into a central inoperative position as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. With the parts thus positioned, the 'control member 26 cannot be moved to an effective operated position by forward shifting alone, or by lateral shifting alone, as neither movement will bring the reduced portion 39 of the tongue into operative juxtaposition to the slots 4| or 42.Y Both forward shifting and lateral shifting of the control member is necessary before the tongue can be Adepressed into either of the slots. It will thus be seen that when the control member is in the position which it normally occupies, it is effectively blocked or locked so that inadvertent Yor accidental forces, which may be applied thereto, will not effect an operation of the controlled devices. Y y

While the control member is electively blocked from inadvertent operation, no latches or the like are employed, and thememlber may be instantaneously operated at all times to effect the ready operation of the controlled deviceor devices. More particularly, when the cntrolmem- Iber is propelled both forwardly' and laterally, or in a predetermined direction from its normal inoperative position, the reduced tongue portion 39 may be brought into operative juxtaposition either to the slot 4|.or the slot l742, as may be desired. Depression `of the control member thereupon causes the tongue to be depressed into the slot and into engagement with either vthe rod` `50 or the rod 5|, depending uponwhich 'slot is engaged. The tension springs 45 resistdownwardmovement of the control member into theslots, so that the operation is at all times underlthe operators accurate control. VUponrelease of the control member, after operation of-thercontrolled device, the springs 45 also4 cooperatewithpthe springs 3|v in effecting an automatic return of the control member to its original or normal poaccesos sition. The downward or operated-position of thee control member is indicated@ in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and the two forward andfl'aterallyshiftedf-positions ofthe control member, to bring the reducedportion` of` the tongue 39. into operative juxtaposition with the sl'otsM` or 42, are indicated in dotted lines in Fig; 5.

Y 'Ellie-control` member 26, in view of its fixed frame mounting upon the floor or support A23, romains such position that it. may bev readily l'and instantaneously engaged`V at all times by the operatorstfoot. The controlleddevice or devices, such. as indicated at lill, however, may be bodily shifted: to.A various` operated positions aboutthe pivots Ilf3Y and IA, and dueto-the provision of the flexible controll or. transmission 55,` the control member 2tv remainsuniformly effectiveupon the controlled. device regardless. of its shifted position. .The operated lever I6 will be; shifted a predetermined distance by a predetermined aotuation of thecontrol member, 26, regardless of the. positioning ofthe handle l of the controlled device.

Thev dual arrangement. of the structure, providing slots41|4 and42r, which may' independently .g

and individually engaged by thev control member, enables. the independent and selective; actuation of the controlled mechanisms by a single; control member without.possibility'of` interference. The construction is rugged and made of a. minimum number of. parts,l and is not susceptiblev toa. becoming jammed either by inadvertent operation or by: the presence of dirt, moisture or the like. In; Fig.. 6,` a -.modified embodiment of structure isrillustrated. In thisv instance the upstanding column la of. the Vcontrol, mechanism frame is provided; with four vertical slots 10,y 1I, 12` and lili,A anyone of which may be individually and selectivelyy engaged by the tongue of the control member, indicatedby the numeral36a; As illus,- `trated. a. rod 14 having a laterally turned portion, 15 is adapted for actuationxwhen the tongue isdepressed into the slot` 10. Similarly,` a rod ltliavinga laterally turnedportion 11 is` adapted for.'actuation when the tongue isengaged in the slotJB. There is also a. rod 1'8- having a lateral-ly turnedportion 19. actuated when the tongue is engaged within the slot-12. A fourth rod 80 is provided. with two lateral extending. portions BI and. 82 lon its lower end, whereby the rod 80 is loperated Iwhen the tongueislengaged either within the slot 1I or the slot 12. It will thus be seen that by movement. of the tongue within the slot 12, both the rod 18 and the rod 80 are operated, whereby to effect the simultaneous operation of a plurality of controlled devices by means of suitable transmission mechanisms, such as previously described.

In the arrangement of Fig. 6, if the control memlber is propelled first forwardly and then laterally by the operators foot, but without substantial downward pressure, the tongue 36a may be readily shifted to the end slots 10 or 13, after which vertical pressure may be applied to cause the tongue to move downwardly into the selected end slot. The tongue may be readily shifted into the end slots also by iirst shifting the control member laterally and then propelling it forwardly. On the other hand, to engage the tongue into the more centrally disposed slots 1I or 12, the control member may rst be shifted forwardly, and then laterally while applying a downward pressure, so that the tongue will drop into the slot 1l or 12 immediately upon engagement therewith.

CFI

It isobvi'ous thatvarious changes` maybe made the specific, embodiments set, forth for purposes ofillustrationwithout` departing from the spirit of the invention.. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments shown and described, but: only as indicated in the following claims;

The invention` sherebyfclaimedas follows:

, 1. A control mechanism comprising .a frame, a control member adapted to beA connected to a device to be controlled, said control' member being pivotallyV and.` slidably mounted. on said frame for movement along apreselected path of. travel from a normal, inoperative` positionto agiven operated position to effect. the operation of the controlled device, said. control member being initially movable in` a plurality of relatively angular directions` within. and along said path of travel from its normal inoperative position to said operated position, and means.. comprising engageable abutments on said frame and member operative to prevent. completed movement of said member into eifective operated position except when said member ismoved to arpieselected` position from said said initial position.

2. AV control mechanism as dened in claim 1, wherein spring meansis provided acting between said member andxsaid frame for restoring the control member tolnormal inoperative position.

3..A control mechanism comprising a frame, a. control member adapted to be connected to a `device' to lloe controlled, said control member being pivotally and slidably. mounted onA said frame for movement along apreselected path of travel from a normal inoperative position' to a given operated; position to eiect, the operation of the controlled device, said? control member being initially movable in aplurality of relatively angular directions within and along saidpath of travel from its. normal. inoperative position to saidl operated position, and means comprising an abutment secured to. the control member and a slot in said framewithin which said abutment is adapted. to engage to permit completed movement of the control member into; eifective operated position only when said member is moved to a preselected position from said initialV position.

l. 4. A` control mechanism comprising a frame, a control member adapted to be connected to a device to 'be controlled, said 4control member being shiftably mounted on'saidf frame for movement: along apreselected path. of travel including movement in at least three directions in at least two different planes of travel from a normal inoperative position to a given operated position to effect the operation of the controlled device, and spring means connected between said frame and said member operative to propel said member to from operated position to normal inoperative position and hold said member in its normal inoperative position.

5. A control mechanism as defined in claim 4, wherein said spring means comprises two independent springs, each of which is independently connected lbetween said member and said frame and is respectively operative to propel said member along its path of travel in one of said two planes of travel.

6. A control mechanism comprising a frame, a control member shiftably mounted on said frame and adapted to be connected to a device to be controlled, said control member being shiftable along a preselected path of travel from a normal inoperative position to a given operated position to effect the operation of the controlled device, said control memb'er. being shiftable with respect to said frame in a plurality of relatively angular directions in one plane toward said `operated position from its initial position, and also 'in a direction Vdisposed at an angle with-'respect to said plane, and locking means .comprising` interengageable abutments on said memberand frame operative to permit movement of said member in said last named angular direction only when said member has been shifted to a preselected position within said plane.

7. A control mechanism a's defined in claim 6, wherein a pair of springs are provided connected between said frame and said control member, one

of which is operative to move thecontrol member in said last named angular direction, and

vthe other of which is operative to move the control member to its plane.

8. A control mechanism comprising a frame, a foot pedal shiftably mounted on said frame, said foot pedal being shiftable along a preselected path of travel from anormal inoperative position to a given operated position to eiect the operation of a device to be controlled, said foot pedal being slidably shiftable in aplurali-ty of different angular directions ina horizontal plane within said path of travel between' said normal inoperative position and said operated position, and being shiftable in a vertical direction when moved to a preselected position in said horizontal plane, and a pair of -cooperativeabutments on said frame and said foot pedal for preventing the vertical shifting of the pedal until it has been shifted to said preselected position.

9. A control mechanism comprising aframe, a foot pedal slidably mounted on said frame for movement in a plurality of different angular directions in a horizontal plane between a normal inoperative position and a given operated position, an abutment memlber secured to said foot pedal, a guide device on said Vframe having a plurality of vertical slots within which said abutment member is adapted to be selectively engaged when the foot pedal is slidably shifted to preselected points in its horizontal plane of movement, means forminga pivot connection between the foot pedal and frame for facilitating the vertical shifting of the pedal, and a plurality of transmission mechanisms adapted to be selectively operated Aby said foot pedal upon vertical shifting movement of the abutment Within said vertical slots.

normal position within said stantially right angularly disposed.

' 11. vAcontrol mechanism as defined in'claim 6,

wherein saidlocking means abutments comprise a tongue secured to said control member and a slot in the frame within which the tongue is movable when the jcontrol member is shifted to said preselectedl position within said plane.

-12. A control' mechanism comprising a frame adapted to'bei secured toa floor platform or other suitable support, a foot pedal mounted on said frame for vertical pivotal movement and also for substantially horizontally slidable movement, said foot pedal' being provided with a tongue member having a portion of greater size and a portion of smaller size, and said frame having a substantially vertically disposed slot adapted .to receive the tongue portion of smaller size but into which the tongue portion of greater size cannot be projected, whereby as said foot pedal is horizontally shifted to bring the tongue portion of smaller size into alinement with said slot the foot pedalv may be vertically pivoted to project the tongue member into the slot, and an operated device actuated by the foot pedal as said tongue is projected to a predetermined position Within said slot.

13. A control mechanism comprising a fra-me adapted to be secured to a floor platform or other suitable support, a foot pedal slidably and pivotally mounted on said frame, said foot pedal having an operating portion shiftable in a ,substantially horizontal plane as the foot pedal is slidably shifted, and movable substantially` vertically as the foot pedal is pivoted, verticallyprojecting means arranged along a predetermined portion of the foot pedal to facilitate the horizon- -tal shifting of said foot pedal operating portion,

abutment means when the foot pedal operating portion is vertically shifted, and a return spring connected'between the foot pedal and frame for normally maintaining the foot pedal in apredetermined initial position.

CHARLES A. ARE-Ns'. 

